The Portland daily press., 1887-06-16
OUR DOCTORS.
Proceedings of the Second Day of
the Convention.

invited to participate in the discussions oil
the meeting. DIR. Douglass happily respond.
ed. The president announced the following
nominating committee: Drs. A. j. Fuller OF
Bath, E. Fl. Hill Of Lewiston, A. M. Peable.
of Auburn, S. Laughton Of Bangor, G. II
Brickett of Augusta, W. p Watson of Cor
ham, 81. Fl. johnson of Belfast.
Drs. ID. A. Robinson of Bangor and A. G.
Young of Augusta were elected to member
ship.
Dr. M. G. Wedgwood, chairman of the
Board of Censors, read long report on the
status of the Medical Registration (which
was signed by Governor Bodwell March II,
and afterwards recalled and vetoed.
Nearly all the essential facts contained in
the Censors' report have already been pub
lshed. In obedience to a suggestion of the
President of the Medical Association, COM
mittee,, consisting OF M. c: Wedgewood, M.
D., of Lewiston, Henry p. Merrill, III. d., of
Portland. Joseph l.. Bennett, M. D.. of Hi
ram, and the Hon. Charles w. Goddard, was
appointed to take such steps as seemed to
them proper, to ascertain the status of the
Registration act.
On the I'd of April the committee prepared
letter to the Governor, respectfully asking
him to communicate to them all the facts
relative to the approval of the Registration
hill, If not. in his Judgment, incompatible
with the public interest. Dr. Thayer and
Prof. Goddard were appointed a sub-commit-
tee to present this letter to Gov. Bodwell,
and laid it before him on Monday, April 4th.
The Governor replied that he would send a
full answer in writing at an early day, and
also made verbal statement, which was in
substance that he signed the bill after con-
fee of the Secretary Of State and went to
dinner. That after dinner, several gentle
men called upon him and expressed their dis
approval of his signing the bill, and urged
him to recall and veto it. He at first object
ed. supposing that he could not legally do so,
but subsequently became convinced that he
could, and did recall and veto it. He had no
knowledge of any eraSures on or mutilation
Of the books in the office of the Secretary Of
State. He said he had no intention of ex-
ceeding his constitutional powers, and had
neither concealed, nor attempted to conceal
anything.
The Subcommittee then visited the office
OF the Secretary of State. The titles of acts
approved by the Governor are recorded in
two books in that office-in the Blotter,
when passed to be engrossed, with the added
date OF the Governors approval, if the bill
is subsequently approved by him. Approx
ed bills are then entered in the Register of
complete acts. with the date of approval.
1t appeared that the Registration act had
been recorded, by title, in both books. The
entry In the Blotter had been partially erased
with sharp knife but could still be read ;
the leaf containing the same entry in the
Register had been cut or torn out, leaving a
narrow ragged margin close to the binding.
On Wednesday, April 9th Gov. Bodwell
sent short note saying that he had nothing
to add to his verbal statement to the SUBJ
committee.
On the 18th of April the committee sent to
the Governor memorandum of his verbal
statement, as printed above, and a report Of
the condition of the books in the office of the
Secretary of State, with request that these
papers with such other documents as the
Governor might choose to add, might be sub
mitted to the justices of the Supreme Court
bill, upon the facts related, is or is not a
public law of the State.
Governor Bodwell replied April 20, that he
could not assent to all the statements and
conclusions as understood and reported by
| the subcommittee, and Furthermore that he
did not regard the matters presented as civ
ing rise to such an important question OF
law and such a solemn occasion as
would warrant him in requiring the opinion
of the court.
On the I'd of May, the committee asked the
Governor to appoint board of medical ex-
aminations and registration, as required by
the act To this petition the Governor made
no reply.
Appended to this statement of fact is a
statement from DR.. Frank K. Sleeper of Au-
and had charge of it, which gives the history
OF the bill and the facts in regard to the ve-
10, as narrated to him by the Governor. The
governors statement is more in detail than
the one he read to the committee but its es'
sentials are the same.
After Dr. Sleeper's statement followed a
long and elaborate legal argument to prove
that the bill is now a law in spite of the
Governors veto.
On motion of DR.. Gerrish of Portland, the
report was accepted and the thanks of the
association extended to the Board of Cen
sors and the gentlemen who assisted them il
the investigation for the prompt, discreet
and thorough manner in which they have
performed their delicate and difficult task.
1t was also voted on motion of DR.. Gerrisl
that a committee of three be appointed by
the chair, with instructions to report in the
afternoon, Immediately after the election Of
officers, a series of resolutions expressive Of
the views of the association concerning the
matter of the act to regulate the practice Of
medicine.
DR.. F. N. Wheeler of Camden presented
paper on "Tetanus."
DR.. W. P. Gliding of Gardiner read 9
paper on Brights disease
Dr. A. ]. Fuller of Bath presented the re-
port OF visitors at the Maine insane Hos
pital. There have been great changes, in
improved condition of sewerage, living
rooms, arrangement of grounds and decrease
Of the death rate. There has been great
Improvement in methods of treatment. The
superintendent is active and enthusiastic
and is aided by an efficient corps of assist
ants. The practice asserted to be prevailing
in many towns and cities of delaying the
commitment of insane paupers to the hos
demned.
DR.. N. d. Skinner of Auburn read paper
on Tobacco Amblyopia.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The association met at o'clock. The fol-
low ing are the officers elected for the ensuing
year:
President-Dr. L. c. Thayer, Waterville.
First Vice President-Dr. A. M. Peables, Au-
burn. --N
second Vice President-Dr. Henry H. Hunt,
Recording Secretary-Dr. Chas D. Smith, Port
land.
Corresponding secretary-Dr. C. E. Williams,
Board of Censors-Drs. M. C. wedgwood, Lew
lstonj b. K. Sturgis, Auburn; +, NJ. Wheeler,
Camden; II. p. Merrill, Portland; ]. o. Webster,
Publication Committee-Drs. Chas. d. Smith,
AeI-oDtcto) Portland; G. o. Hunt, Portland; j. A.
Donovan, Lewiston; G. II. Baker, Portland; f. Z.
:, Business Committee 1. E. Kimball, C. A.
King, Portland.
The sum of 500 was appropriated for the
International Medical Congress, which meets
In September next in Washington.
The following resolutions were introduced
by DR.. F. ii. Gerrish, chairman of the CON-
mittee
Whereas, the Board of Censors of this associa-
tlon mas made a careful Investigation of the
passage by both branches of the Legislature
OF the bill entitled "An act to regulate the Prac-
tice OF Medicine; OF its approval by the Gov
ernor, Its formal deposit as a law among the
archives In the office of the Secretary of State
the withdrawal therefrom by the Governor at the
veto of it; and, -
Whereas, this association is satisfied of the cor
rectness OF the statement of the facts In the case
wnlch Is made by the .Censors, and believes that
all the steps necessary TO convert the bill into
law were taken, that no subsequent action of the
to annu this statute, and that the act in question
now law of the State, and as such is entitled to
full recognition and enforcement; therefore,
Resolved, That, as this association possesses
fuller knowledge of the circumstances of the case
than any other body of citizens 1t is peculiarly its
duty to inform the people of the State Of the out
rage which has been perpetrated upon them and
acquaint them with the conduct of the men whom
tney nave honored with some OF the most exalted
Offices In their gift.
. Resolved, That in the opinion of this associa-
ton, the Governor by ahstractinO tho RaOietra